Apparatus for processing film



Dec. 16, 1930. H. v. JAMIESON APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM 5 sheets-sheet 1 gnvewfoz WW4 attorney! 5A 5% s Y m rm. 0 0 O O O O O O O G O O O O .QN m m \nw M x \N 0 QW \w .Qw N v/w (b 0 NN %\N Q 0 1930. H. v. JAMIESON I APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM Filed June 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1930. H. v. JAMIESON APPARATUS FR PROCESSING F'ILN Filed Junell, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jnucnfon 1930. H. v. JAMIESON I APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM Filed June 11, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 16, 1930. H. v. JAMIESON 1,785,631

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM Filed June 11, 1927 5 sneaks-sheet s Patented Dec. 16, 1930 OFFICE noon v. mason, or DALLAS, rains APPARATUS FOR PROOESSI NGJILH Application filed June 11 This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for processing film and is directed more particularly and specifically to a machine for continuously processing cinematographic film or as it is more commonly known, motion picture film.

It is the object of the resent invention to provide an apparatus or processing or treating photographic film tape, such as is employed for taking and projectin motion pictures, in a manner to keep the 1m tape moving continuously through the several processing steps such as the developing solution, the rinse, the hypo bath, the wash water and the dryer. In addition to .the above steps' of treating the film, the device can be used, if so desired, with the additional steps of toning and tinting. y

The present apparatus is designed for and is particularly directed to use in a small laboratory where the cost of the apparatus is a material item as well as is the space required to receive and operate the apparatus.

Hence one of the ob ects of the invention is the provision of a film processing apparatus which is comparatively cheap in construction and combines a compactness which, in addition to saving space in the laboratory, simplifies and economizes the temperai ture control and the solutions used in the several baths in the steps of the process.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a film processing apparatus which can be operated and started with the small amount of five gallons of developer for a three thousand foot per hour capacity of film.

The present invention also includes a novel arrangement of vat or tray. construction whereby the developing solution is injected into and withdrawn from thevat or tray in a new and novel manner, whereby the developing solution as a whole is always the F same strength which insures a better processing and developing of the film.

The present apparatus also includes a novel form of drylng apparatus which apparatus includes means to automatically compensate for the shrinkage in the film tape as the film passes through the dryer.

' a'novel arrangement of carrying and 1927. Serial so. 1aa,1es.

j' The apparatus as an entirety, has the object of continuously processing a continuous strip or tape of film through the several steps necessary to a complete development and finishing'of the film, the apparatusincluding Su portin the film and progressing the fil lii throug I the first processlng step' and on through the apparatus to,progressively receive the other steps ofthe treatment necessary to produce the finished develo ed film.

The many other objects, novel eatures of construction and improved results in the op-' eration of the apparatuswill appear from the following description and the accompany drawings. j 1 I In the drawings: I v Figure lis a plan view of the ap aratus. Figure 2 is a detail view'in vertical section showing the division walls of the tray or vat and-the driven rollers which progress the film tape.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the'main driving shaft and the 's'upplemental driving shafts and driven rollers of two adjacent trays. i

Figure 4. is a view in side'elevation of the dryer and the driving motor for progressing the film through the entire apparatus.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation showing the driven rollers of the drying apparatus, the driven sprocket wheel and the take-up reel.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary perspective view of the center of the drying apparatus showing the manner in which the film tape is transferred from the upper rollers to the lower rollers of this apparatus.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the drive connection between the motor and the film take-up reel. V

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the driven roller of the drive illustrating the manner in which they diminish in size towards the innermost roller of the unit.

Describing the invention in broad terms, it consists essentially of several trays or vats which contain the necessary solutions for effecting the steps of the processing and the drying apparatus for drying the film after it has been treated. Both the trays and the drying apparatus have a plurality of driven rollers and idling rollers so arranged that the film tape advances in a manner which I have termed spirally through the apparatus. Throu bout the movement and progression of the m tape, the edge of the film is always virtuall inthe same plane which plane is perpen icular to the plane in which the body of the film lies. At those times when the film tape passes over guide rollers to be moved through the rinse water and advanced from one bath to another, the edge of the film is not in the vertical'plane ]11St mentioned. Additionally the film is so threaded and progressed through the apparatus that the emulsion surface of the film never comes in contact with the rollers, its only contactbeing with the solutions in the several baths.

In the drawings there is illustrated a construction in which the units or baths through which the film is processed are so arranged thatthe plane in which the edge of the film lies is horizontal while the unit for drying the film is vertical. It will be readily understood, however, that the positions and' lanes of the. several units can be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention. The. drawings, specifically in Figure 1, clearly illustrate two units in front of the dryer. It will be readily understood that the film can be passed through as many units as is desirable before reaching the dryer. If it is desirable to tone and tint the film, the necessary additional units for accomplishing this end will be interposed between the entering of the film and its passage out to the dryer. 1 e

in the several bath units, the Y form of roller construction is shown. That is to say the stem of the Y carries a plurality of driven rollers while the two arms of the Y carry a plurality of idling rollers. The film is progressed and threaded through these rollers in a manner which causes the film to form a plurality of triangles in the tray.- Each tri-' angle formed is larger than the first triangle and entirely surrounds the same. This progression in a series of constantly enlarging triangular forms is what I have termed the spiral advancement.

It will be readily understood that a greater number of idling rollers or series of idling rollers could be introduced into the path of travel of the film tape to form the path which the film tape takes on its progression through the unit. :That is to say rather than have a lurality of triangular shaped forms, the Elm could progress in a plurality of rectangular shaped forms. Additionally it would not depart from the spirit of the pres ent invention were drive rollers substituted for some of the idling rollers, or vice versa.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the major portion of one unit has been illustrated in detail, while only enough of the second unit is illustrated to show the manner of rogression from one unit to the other.

t will of course be necessary to have a suflicient number of units toproperly process the film. A developing and a hypo bath unit is essential as well as the two units for the wash water to Wash the film. Inasmuch as the film is taken up on a reel as it comes from large tray 10 contains a solution which com-- prises a temperature control bath which is designated as 13. This solution surrounds all of the units within the large tray and the temperature of the solution can be controlled by the addition of warm water or ice, or any other suitable heating or cooling devices.

Each of the unit trays 11 and 12 are of course li uid tight to confine the particular solution t at they then contain, as well as to prevent any admission of the temperature control bath 13.

A specific description of the unit 11 which is the developing unit, will now be given. The other bath'units are of similar construction and hence no specific description of them will be made. The remaining units, however, do not necessarily have incorporated in their construction the division walls which are uti- To accommodate this Y-shaped roller carrier the tray 11, is of a triangular shape as clearly appears in the drawing.

By reference to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the bottom bar 14 of the stem of the Y furnishes a pivot bearing 18 for the driving rollers 15, while the shafts 19 of theserollers extend upwardly through the top bar and carry on their upper ends miter gears 20. Positioned above the stem of the Y and extending throughout its length, is a shaft 21 which carries a plurality of miter gears 22 which engage the driven roller gears 20.

It will be readily understood that the Y- the tray and can be removed therefrom at any time, if desired.

The main drive vof the several units comprises the shaft 23-which extends above the several trays 11 and 12, and is provided with gears 24for engagement with the roller drive shafts 21. This main drive shaft is connected with a motor or other'suitable "speed control device (not shown) sothat the time of development may becontrolled by varying the speed at which the machine is run, which of course controlsthe speed at which the film moves through the apparatus.

It is pointed out at this time that the main drive shaft 23 is also geared'to the drying unit so that the rollers of this. unit will be driven at the same speed as the rollers in the several bathunits.

24, 25 and 26 are vertical partitions or walls supported'between the fiat bars 14 of the Y- shaped roller carrier which divide the developing tray into four compartments, 27, 28, 29 and 30. It is intended that fresh developing solution be added to the compartment 30 of the developing tray by the pipe 31, and discharged from the compartment 27 through the overflow pipe 32. When fresh developing solutionis added at 31, it will tend to raise the level of the solutionin the compartment 30 which will cause the solution to flow into the compartment 29 next to it. Due to the direction of the travel of film, however, the solution will tend to some extent to be retained in compartment 30 until it has pretty thoroughly come in contact with the film throughout the compartment before it flows into the next adjacent compartment 29. The movement of the solution from the compartment 29 to the compartment 28 and thence to the compartment 27 is similar to that just de scribed. The solution in the inner or last compartment 27, will be kept at a constant level by reason of the overflow pipe 32.

If desirable, the arrangement can be reversed by adding the fresh developing solution to the innermost compartment 27 and positioning the overflow pipe in the outermost compartment 30. By adding a fresh developing solution to the innermost compartment 27, the action of the fresh devel oper is upon the film where it first enters the solution.

Injecting the freshdeveloper to either the innermost compartment or the 'outermost compartment is a matter of preference to be controlled by the results obtained.

By the arrangement provided for adding fresh developing solution and forcing it through the compartments, there will be opportunity, for the solution to be as fully used up as desired before it is discharged at the same rate as the fresh developing solution being I added. This additionally will tendvto keep the developing solution, as a whole, at always approximately the same strength.

The film to be processed comes from the roll or reel 33'and the'film proper is designated by thenumeral 100. From the reel 33 the film passes over a guide roller 34, with the emulsion side of the film away or remote from the roller. From the guide roller 34 the film passes over the first or innermost driven roller of the series, and thence to the first or innermost idling roller of the first series of idling rollers carried by the arm Y. From the first'idling roller of the first series, the film passes to the first or innermost of the idling roller of the second series of idling rollers carried by the arm X. From this point the film passes to the second driven or drive roller and so on around all of the rollers until it arrives at the outermost idling roller of the first series of idling rollers. Here the film passes over the guide rollers 35, 36.37, 38, 39 and 40 to the first or innermost driving roller of the second unit of the apparatus.

Between the guide rollers 37 and 38, the film is submerged in the temperature control bath 13 which serves as a rinse.

It will of course be understood that the film is always directed over the rollers in a manner to keep the emulsion side of the film remote from the rollers) As previously described, the film after being processed in the last of the baths, is carried to the dryer 41, passing to the dryer over the guide roller 42 from the last of the idling rollers in'the last unit.

The dryer 41 comprises a rectangular frame43 in which is mounted the spaced parallel bars 44 which cross one another intermediate their length as at 45, to form an X-shaped roller carrier.

Mounted between the bars 44 are a plurality of idling rollers 46 which I have termed outer rollers, and a plurality of rollers 47 which I have. termed inner rollers. By reference to Figure 6 of the drawing it will be seen that these idling rollers are carried by three arms of the X-shaped carrier while the fourth arm carries the driven outer and inner rollers 48 and 49 respectively. The shafts 50 of the driven rollers extend upwardly through the bar 44 and carry the miter gears 51.

Extending above that arm of the X-shaped carrier in which is mounted the driven rollers, is a shaft 52 which has driving (onnection with the main drive shaft 23, and is provided with a plurality of miter gears 53 which engage the miter gears 51 and cause the rotation of the driven rollers 48 and 49.

Positioned in the lower portion of the dryer frame 43'is a guide roller 54 and a film take-up reel 55. The reel 55 has fixed connection with the shaft 101. A pulley 103 is loosely mounted on said shaft and is provided with a pulley shaft carrying a gear 58 which en ages the gear 59 carried by the motor 56.

The take-up reel shaft 101 carries a friction plate i which is held in frictional en- 103 through the medium of a coilspring 105' agement 'withthe' outer face of the pulley which is held. in position by the nut 106.

' This friction plate has driving connection with the shaft 101 through the medium of a pin 104' which slides in the longitudinal slot 101 in the shaft. The tension of the spring can be adjusted through the medium'of the nut. From the foregoing it will be seen that the motor 56 drives the entire apparatus. By driving the pulley 103 the shaft 60 is rotated and this shaft iii turn drives the shaft '52 and this shaft through its connection with the shaft 23 and causes the rotation of the shafts 21 in the bath units.

Thereel 55 is driven through the medium of the frictional plate 104.. This frictional drive connection is necessary as the'reel 55 must turn slower and slower as it takes up the film and thereby increases the diameter of the roll of film which it is receiving.

A sprocket wheel 63 is mounted upon the frame 64 which supports the shaft 60. This;

sprocket wheel is driven by the shaft 60 through suitable gear connection therewith. This sprocket wheel plays an importantpart in the apparatus as will be more specifically hereinafter described.

The film tape after leaving the last bath unit over the guide roller 42, passes to the outer idling roller 46 at the lower corner of the dryer. From this idling roller it passes to the outer idling roller 46 at the upper left hand corner of the dryer, and thence around the roller 46 at the upper right hand corner of the dryer and down to the outer driven roller 48. The film tape continues around the several series of idling rollers and the series. of driven rollers until it reachesthe center of the dryer.

By reference to Figure 6 it will be seen that there is provided centrally of the dryer a guide roller 65 and that, the film 100 after passing over the last outer idling roller which has been numbered 66 to more readily identify it, the film'passes over the guide roller 65 and thence back to the first inner idling roller beside the previously mentioned idling roller 66. From this point the film passes to the second inner idling roller which as been numbered 67 for identification.

The film tape has progressed on the outermost rollers from the outer edge of the drive 'to its center and by carrying the film tape over the guide. roller 65, it has been started mama:

ers is clearly indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. 7 g Y After having'been started outwardly from the center of the dryer, the film eventually reaches the outside and is taken off of the innermost driven roller of the last or outside driven roller.

When the film passes off of the last driven roller, it is carried over the guide roller 54. and thence to the sprocket wheel 63. As is well known, all motion film tape is provided with openings in its edges, and these openings in the film tape are positively en aged b the teeth'68 of the sprocket wheel. From t e sprocket wheel the film passes to the take-up reel 55. 1

Although I have not illustrated any-means for causing an air passage over the film tape during its passage through the dryer, it will be 'readily' understood that an air current from an electric fan orsome other suitable device, can be directed on the film or should it be desirable, heated air can be directed against the 'fil'm. Warming of the air is only necessary when extremely rapid drying is desired, or when the air has been previ ously cooled to precepitate excessive moisture already in the air.

The sprocket wheel forms an important part of the apparatus and an important function in its operation. This wheel is positively driven and positively engages the film tape,

and is made'of such a size that it advances the film tape slightly slower than the friction of the driven rollers is capable of advancing it. By reason of this construction the film tape is always held in frictional engagement with the driven rollers of the entire apparatus, and permits these rollers to assist in the progression of the film tape through the apparatu's. Were it not for the driven rollers, the friction of the many rollers of the apparatus would probably be so excessive as to cause the film tape to break were it attempted to pull the film tape through the apparatus by means of the sprocket wheel alone.

It is necessary to make arrangement and compensation for any shrinkage in the film due to its being dried. As illustrated in Figure' 8 of the drawings to take care of and compensate for any film shrinkage, the first driven roller in the dr'yeris of the same diameter as the driven rollers in the other units of the apparatus but each successive drive roller is made of a slightly smaller diameter so that between any two drive rollers in the dryer there is a tendency for slack accumulation. This slack is sufiicient to compensate for any shrinkage which takes place in the film between these rollers. Any accumulation of slack above the amount taken up by shrinkage will release the tension or friction contact on the precedin Any accumulation of slack taking place in theother units such as might be caused by the expansion of the film in any of the solutions, will be taken care of automatically by reason of the slack accumulation releasing tension on preceding drive rollers, thus retarding their advancement of the film until the slack has disappeared.

When the apparatus has once been thread- 1 ed up by hand, it can be operated continuously until the particular film tape being processed is completed. Suflicient blank film .is then attached to the end of the film being processed and will thus follow it through the machine. By

detaching the completed processed film, t e machine is left threaded up with blank film tape ready to be again operated by simply attaching the film desired to be rocessed to the end of the blank film tape.

l hen the apparatus is completely threaded up, there is a possibility that there will not be suflicient frictional contact between the film and the drive rollers to enable these rollers to advance the film. Frictional contact between the film tape and the drive roller is had, however, within a very short time by reason of the positive advancement of the film tape by the sprocket gear wheel. The advancement of the tape by the drive rollers is dependent upon the sprocket gear wheel, causing a frictional engagement between the film tape and the drive rollers. The fact that the drive rollers tend to advance the film faster than the sprocket wheel advances it, will release the tension from all of the drive rollers until the friction contact between the film and the drive rollers is just sufficient to require about four gallons of solution. With a four minute development, the apparatus has a capacity of three thousand feet of film'per hour.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an apparatus for handling a comparatively great amount of film tape in a device which is very simple and requires aminimum amount of space in a studio. It will be further seen that my improved method and apparatus provides an improved means of taking care of any shrinkage or expansion of the film tape during the time it is being handled. The invention' furthermore embodies means for positively assuring a frictional engagement between the film tape and the driven rollers of the apparatus, and also provides an improved manner of injecting and discharging developing solution to the tray in which the developing step oftheprocess takes place.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Pat- -ent is:

1. In afilm treating apparatus, a mechanism for effecting travel of a film tape composed of a plurality of driven and'idle rotatable members over which the film tape is trained, and a positively driven sprocket wheel having positive engagement with the 5 delivery end portion of the tape, said sprocket wheel of less diameter than the diameters of the driven rotatable member and adapted to move the tape at a slower speed than it is moved by the driven rotatable members, whereby the tape is maintained under tension and in frictional engagement with said driven members for causingthe latter to impart motion thereto and progress the film through the tray.

2. In a film treating apparatus, the combination of a tray, 9. film tape carrier in said tray composed of a plurality of driven and idle rotatable members spirally arranged over which the film is trained, and means comprising a positively driven sprocket wheel for positively engaging the film tape and advancin it at a speed slower than the s eed it is a apted to be advanced by the riven rotatable members, whereby said film tape is maintained in frictional engagement with the driven rotatable members for causing said members to impart motion to the tape and progress it through the tray.

3. In a-film treating'apparatus, a bath for the film tape comprising a tray having there in a carrier composed of a plurality of driven and idle rotatable members over which the film tape is trained, division walls in said tray dividing the same into a plurality of concentrically arranged compartments through which the film tape is progressed, means for injecting a developing solution into one of said tray compartments, and means in the remote compartment therefrom for automatically discharging said solution and'maintaining the same at a predetermined level, and means to impart tension to the film tape to maintain the same in frictional engagement with said driven members for causing the latter to impart motion thereto and progress the film through the tray and its compartments.

4. In a film treating apparatus, the combination of a tray and a Y shaped film tape carrier in said tray composed of a pluralit of driven and idle rotatable members over w 1011 the film tape is spirally trained with the edge of the tape in a horizontal plane, and means to impart tension to the film tape to maintain it in engagement with said driven members for causing the latter to impart motion to the film tape and progress the film through the tra Y 5 In a film treating apparatus, the combination of a triangular shaped tray and a Y shaped film tape carrier mounted in the said tray composed of a plurality of driven and idle rotatable members over which the film tape is spirally trained in a configuration sim ilar to the configuration of the tray, and means to impart tension to the film tape to maintain it in engagement with the driven members for causing the latter to impart motion to the tape and progress it through the tray.

6.' In a film treating apparatus, the combination of a tray and a film tape carrier in said signature.

positive engagement with the delivery and portion of the tape and adapted to move the tae at a slower speed than it is moved by the driven rotatable members, whereby the tape is maintained under tension and in frictional 7 engagement with said driven members'for causing the latter to impart motion thereto and progressing the film through the tray.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my HUGH V. J AMIESON.

tray composed of a plurality of driven and idle rotatable members arranged in a spiral over which the film is trained, and a sprocket Wheel positively engaging the film tape at its edges and advancing it at a speed slower than the speed at which it is advanced by the driven rotatable members, whereby said film tape is maintained in frictional engagement with the rotatable members for causing the said members to progress the tape spirally through the tray.

7. An apparatus for continuously progressing a film tape through a tray containin liquid, comprising a film tape carrier in sai tray composed of a plurality of driven and idle rotatable members spirally arranged over which the film tape is spirally trained, and

means comprising a sprocket wheel positively engaging the edges of the film tape and advancing it at a speed slower than the speed it is adapted to be advanced by the driven rotatable members, whereby said film tape is maintained in frictionaldriving engagement with the driven rotatable members.

8. In a film treating apparatus, the combination of a tray and a film tape carrier in said tray composed of a plurality of driven rotatable members over which the film tape is spirally trained with the edge of the tape in a horizontal plane, and means for positively engaging the edge of the film and progressing it at a speed slower than that given to the film tape by the driven rotatable members to maintain it in engagement with said driven members for causing the said driven members to impart motion to said film tape and progress the film through the tray.

9. In a film treating apparatus, a mechanism for effecting travel of a film tape com.-

posed of a plurality of idle and driven rotatable members over which the film tape is trained, and positively drivenmeans having 

